Self-leveling chair for ships



Patented Feb. 2|, lss.

l w. M. Knox. SELF LEVELING GHAIR FOB SHIPS.

(Application led Dec. 17, 1897.)

Waff/6650.5 WL W YH: Nonms PETERS co Fumo-uma.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITEID STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. KNOX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-LEVELING CHAIR FOR SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,895, dated February21, 1899.

Application filed December 17, 1897. Serial No. 662,302. (No model.)

To @ZZ zowm t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. KNOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forlning a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in chairsfor use on board ship and in similar places where a person is subjectedto a rocking or other unusual and disagreeable motion which tends toproduce seasickness or other complaint of a similar nature.

Another object of the invention is to suspend a chair in such a mannerthat it will be capable of moving in any direction and maintainingitself in its normal vertical position notwithstanding the position ofits supports; and a further object of the invention is to providea chairof simple construction which can be moved about from place to place andsuspended from above or supported on the deck of a ship and which isreadily accessible at all times.

With these and other ends in view the invention consists of the peculiarconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, a ndillustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a topplan view of my improved sea-chair, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view onVthe line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in both the iigures, A designates a circularsupporting-frame which is mounted on a pair of standards B and securedthereto by swivel connections C, these standards being provided withenlarged bases D, or they may be adapted to receive fastening devices bywhich they can be secured to the deck of a ship. Instead of employingthe standards B the frame may be supported from above by means ofdepending rods B'. (Indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.) Achair-frame E is arranged within the supporting-frame and swiveledthereto at F, said chair-frame carrying the seat G, which is secured tothe frame by means of the rods H. The seat carries a footrest I, and aback J is secured on the rods H.

The chair-frame is swiveled to the supporting-frame at points betweenthe swivel connections of the supporting-frame and the standards, sothat the chair-frame can swing freely in one direction independently ofthe supporting-frame and the supporting-frame can swing freely in theopposite direction independently of the chair-frame, whereby the seatcarried by the chair-frame may always be held by gravity in a verticalposition.

The supporting-frame and the chair-frame are each open on one side, sothat access may be readily had to the seat, and this opening occursbetween one of the swivels for the supporting-frame and a swivel of thechair-frame. It will thus be observed that the chair, comprising theseat, the foot-rest,the supportingrods, and the back-rest, will alwaysremain in a vertical position notwithstanding the movement of the shipor whatever else the supporting-frame is supported on and whether it issuspended from above or supported on standards. This is accomplished bymeans of the double swivel-support for the chair, which is constitutedby the swivel-supporting frame capable of swinging in one direction andthe chair-frame swiveled to said supporting-frame and capable ofswinging in the opposite direction.

I am aware that other means may be substituted for the standard to forma support for the frame A and that other changes in the form andproportion of parts and details of construction of my invention may bemade Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantagesthereof, and I would therefore have it understood that I reserve theright to make all such changes that fall within the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

My improved chair may be designated a sea-chair for the reason that itis especially adapted for use on board ship and by reason of the factthat the seat will remain in a normally vertical position,notwithstanding the pitching and tossing or rocking of the ship, and aperson may sit in the chair and be free from the disagreeable motion ofthe ship, which tends to produce seasickness and nausea.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with suitable supports, of a, supporting-frame swiveledthereto at diametrically opposite points, a chair-frame arranged Withinthe supporting-frame, and swiveled thereto at points equidistzmt betweenthe swivels of the supporting-fram@ the su pporting-frame andchair-frame havin g Io openings at one side which register with eachother, rods depending from the chair-frame, a seat secured to thedepending rods, and a foot-rest suspended below the ohair-seat.

WILLIAM M. KNOX. Witnesses:

WM. O. BELT, C. L. WOOD.

